Cool MateEmpty vs It's worth nothing
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Empty
Top 1,000 (very common)A2adjective
It's worth nothing
Top 2,000 (common)
Most common: Empty
| Empty | It's worth nothing | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈempti/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈempti/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ɪts wɜːθ ˈnʌθɪn//🇺🇸 //ɪts wɜrθ ˈnʌθɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Having nothing inside it. | It has no value. |
| Example | The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. | After all the effort, that gift is worth nothing to me now. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of, appear, be, feel, completely, entirely, quite, of | worth nothing to someone, something is worth nothing, essentially worth nothing |
| Antonyms | full, occupied, loaded | - |
| Common mistakes | Using 'emptied' instead of 'empty' for describing a current state., Saying 'an emptyness' instead of 'emptiness' when referring to the state of being empty. | Confused with 'it's worth something' - learners often mix up the meanings., Mispronounce 'nothing' - learners may forget the 'th' sound. |
| Usage notes | Use 'empty' to describe physical spaces, containers, or feelings. It may not be appropriate for formal writing when referring to more abstract concepts like 'empty promises'. | Used in informal contexts to express that something has no monetary or intrinsic value. Avoid in formal writing or discussions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Empty vs It's worth nothing
What's the difference between Empty and It's worth nothing?
Empty: Having nothing inside it. It's worth nothing: It has no value.
Which is more common: Empty and It's worth nothing?
Empty is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Empty: The box was empty, so I decided to fill it with toys. It's worth nothing: After all the effort, that gift is worth nothing to me now.
Can I use Empty and It's worth nothing interchangeably?
Not always. Empty and It's worth nothing are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.